Game of chance apparatus

ABSTRACT

The apparatus of this invention is designed for use in games of chance and particularly in such games which require a display of a player&#39;&#39;s score, such as a showing of one or more spots on the upturned face of a die, for example. In the present invention an array of spots indicating a player&#39;&#39;s score is made visible by the emission of light therefrom and the composition of each array will be a function of an angular relationship between a stationary and a rotatable member of the apparatus.

United States Patent 1 1 McNaney 1451 Sept. 18,1973

1 1 GAME OF CHANCE APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Joseph T. McNaney, 8548 Boulder Dr., La Mesa, Calif. 92041 221 Filed: Jan. 24, 1972 211 App]. No.: 220,318

52 us. c1..... 273/142 A, 273/142 11, 273/142 JB, 40/28 R 51 mm. A631 5/04 [58] Field of Search 27.3/142 R, 142 A,

273/142 B, 142 C, 142 D, 142 E, 142 F, 142 G, 142 H, 142 HA, 142 J, 142 JA, 142 .18, 142 JC, 142 JD, 142 K, 138 R, 138 A, 141 R, 141 A, 1 E; 40/28 R, 28 C, 34, 70 R, 70 A, 130 K,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 474,188 5/1892 Rabiger et a1. 273/142 H 2,334,440 11/1943 Ragan 2/1952 Tilson 273/142 C X 2,891,338 6/1959 Palamara 273/142 A UX 3,046,018 7/1962 Serpico.........,. 273/142 .IB

3,243,185 3/1966 Miller 273/142 R 3,298,114 [/1967 Marsh, Jr 35/4 3,645,532 2/1972 McNaney 273/142 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 51,006 3/1890 Germany 273/142 H Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Amold W. Kramer [57] ABSTRACT The apparatus of this invention is designed for use in games of chance and particularly in such games which require a display of a players score, such as a showing of one or more spots on the upturned face of a die, for example. In the present invention an array of spots indieating a players score is made visible by the emission of light therefrom and the composition of each array will be a function of an angular relationship between a stationary and a rotatable member of the apparatus.

6 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention herein pertains to games of chance which can be described by referring to the familiar die spot means of displaying a participant's score when one or more of the cubes are used in such games. Also, a similarity will be noted between certain embodiments of this invention and my disclosure of the dice game of chance device which is now U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,532 (application Ser. No. 100132). Moreover, the present invention includes novel die score means for utilization in games of chance, wherein two, five, 20, or more individual die spot display means are used, which may be participated in by small or large groups of players.

Various embodiments of the individual score indicators are illustrated including various system means for allowing a plurality of such indicators to be distributed, as in playing games with cards, to a predetermined group of players. For example, system embodiments of the invention include a rotating of a plurality of individual score indicators abouta common axis of the apparatus whereby a predetermined number of indicators will be made to assume a position in front of each player and in doing so each of the indicators will have assumed a particular angular position about an axis thereof. Each such position will be related to a particular die score and each combination of such scores that happens to be positioned in front of a player will be that players combination with which to play the game.

Important objects and features of this invention are that it can be made to perform with a high degree of punctiliousness. Another object of the system embodiments of the invention is to avoid all personal contact with the individual indicators therein and leave the score being displayed purely a function of chance. These and other features and objects will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the drawings hereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. la, lb, and 1c illustrate one indicator embodiment of the invention having a rotatable score display member;

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate another embodiment I which also has a rotatable score display member;

FIG. 3 will be referred to in describingthe light mask of various embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 4a 4b illustrate another indicator embodiment of the invention having a stationary score display member;

FIGS. 5a, 5b illustrate another embodiment which also has a stationary score display member;

FIGS. 60, 6b and 60 represent still another indicator embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial showing of a system embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional showing of a system embodiment in which the parts of FIG. 7' have been included;

FIG. 9 is still another partial showing of a system embodiment in which the parts of FIG. 7 have been included;

FIG. 10 will be referred to in describing the operation of the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show portions of still another system embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 shows a section of still another embodiment; and

FIG. 14 will be referred to in describing the operation of the various indicator embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A score indicator 11 shown in FIG. lb includes a mask 10 intermediate a light source 13 and a score display member 14 which is rotatable about an axis 16 thereof. The mask 10, as shown in FIG. 3, has a plurality of predetermined positioned window means 17 therethrough for the passage of light from a source 13 to a first surface 18 of the score display member 14. The firstsurface 18 to which light is exposed is shown in FIG. lc. An opposing surface 19 of the member 14 is shown in FIG. la, including an array of magnetic position control elements 20, each element being a predetennined distance off the axis 16 and fixedly attached to the member 14 so as to be rotatable therewith about the axis 16. A shaft 22 and bearing 23 is provided for allowing the member 14 to be rotatable in relation to the mask 10.

In FIG. 1c the first surface 18 shows a predetermined array of the light admitting ends 24 of a plurality of light guides which are supported in the member 14 and extend therethrough to the surface 19 thereof. At this latter surface the light emitting ends 25 of the light guides are arranged so as to provide a more familiar array and display of die spots. The placement, as shown, of the ends 24 at the first surface 18 is designed to be compatible with the placement of the window means 17 to the extent of allowing the light from the source 13 to reach the emitting ends 25 as a function of angular relationships between the member 14 and the mask 10. The 12 magnetic elements 20, which are, for example, /1 inch diameter ceramic discs, are arranged to present six N poles, each being intermediate six S poles, so as to allow the memlber 14 to assume one of at least six different angular positions with respect to a reference magnet 26. At each of six positions light will be displayed at the surface 19 to represent, respectively, one, two, three, four, five and six die spots. The six positions at which one to six die spots will be displayed are identified, respectively, as positions I, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 2a and 2b the score indicator 21 in this embodiment differs from the indicator 11 em bodiment in that light guides are not utilized therein and instead of providing the more familiar rectangular array of die spots, more particularly when displaying the six die spots, an array as illustrated in FIG. 2a is utilized instead of the array shown in FIG. 1a. The score display member 34 consists of a mask having an array of openings 35 like that shown in FIG. 2a extending from a first surface 27 to a second surface 28 thereof and closely adjacent the second surface 28 there is a layer 29 of translucent material so as to effect a diffusion of the light being directed at the first surface.

Unlike the score display members of the indicators 11 and 21, each of which are rotatable in relation to a mask 10, in each of the embodiments of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 a mask intermediate a light source and a display member is rotatable in relation to a display member thereof. Referring now to FIGS. 40 and 4b a mask and magnet assembly 30 is rotatable in relation to a display member 31 about an axis 32 thereof and supported by a shaft and bearing assembly 33 thereof. The shaft 36 is fixedly supported in the material of the member 31. Similar to the display member 14, a plurality of light guides are supported therein which extend from a first surface 37 thereof to a second surface 38. The light guides have light admitting ends which coincide with the surface 37 and arranged like those shown in FIG. 1c so as to agree with the window arrangement in the mask 39, which arrangement is like that shown in FIG. 3. The light emitting ends 25 are arranged as shown in FIG. 4a, wherein two unused ends of light guides 40 have been included to give the array a more uniform look.

The score indicator 41 in FIG. a and 5b differs from that in the FIG. 4 embodiment in that light guides are not included therein. The indicator 41 is comprised of a mask 42 having an array of openings 35 as shown in FIG 5a extending from a first surface 43 to a second surface 44 thereof and closely adjacent the second surface 44 there is a layer 45 of translucent material for the purpose of effecting a diffusion of the light being directed at the first surface 43. In each of the FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 embodiments an array of magnets 20 are supported in combination with the mask 39 to form the assembly 30, which will be permitted to assume any of at least six different angular positions with respect to a reference magnet 26.

In regard to the arrangement of windows 17 as shown in FIG. 3 and used in the mask of FIGS. 1b and 2b, and in the mask 39 of FIGS. 4b and 5b, a positioning of these windows 17 are more clearly indicated in FIG. 14. The angular and radial position of each window is related to the angular and radial position of each of the light admitting areas 24 shown in FIG. 10. When the axial point 46 of FIGS. 1c and 3 are made to coincide with each other, and the reference arrow 47 coincides with the angular position 1, shown in FIGS. 3 and 14,

the windows corresponding to a die spot 1 will have been aligned with each other. When arrow 47 coincides with position 2 windows corresponding to die spots 2 will have been aligned; arrow 47 coinciding with position 3 allows windows corresponding to die spots 3 to be aligned; etc. Althoughthe window arrangements described thus far are preferred, other arrangements are of course possible; When displays are really limited to a maximum of six die spots the window 48 in FIG. 14 can be moved to the position 49, for example. If nine, or more, die spots are designed to be displayed on a single diethen still other window arrangements can be utilized.

Referring now to the score indicator embodiment of FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c it is similiar to that of FIG. 5b except for the arrangement of the windows in the rotatable mask 50 and in the score display member 51. Although twelve magnets have been shown in each of the embodiments described thus far only six would have been actually needed. Therefore, six magnets 20 are shown in FIG. 6b since the space in a mask portion between them is used for window means 52. In angular positions 1 through 6 die spot arrays represented by window 52 placements of one to six are illustrated. When the arrow 53 coincides with an angular 6 position of the mask 50 the six windows in the mask 50 will have been aligned with the six windows 54 in the mask portion of the display member 51. Six die spots are therefore displayed. An angular 5 position alignment will provide a display of five die spots, etc. Unlike the displays provided by the windowarrangements 35 in FIGS. 5a and 2a, the embodiment of FIG. 6 provides a rectangular array of die spots. However, the spots are displayed in a relatively smaller area.

Each one of the score indicators described herein are designed to function as individual indicator means in apparatus involving a number of them. In FIG. 7 a portion of a system embodiment is shown which is designed to support an individual indicator in each of 20 positions 60 angularly spaced adjacent the outer periphery 61 of a rotatable wheel-shaped plate 62. A seetional 'view of the plate 62 is again shown in FIG. 8 which is supported in a shaft and bearing assembly 63, rotatable inrelation to a stationary body 64 of the apparatus and about an axis 65 thereof. There are 20 magnetic elements 66 supported by the plate 62, each one a predetermined distance from the axis 65 and related, respectively, to each of the positions 60. One or more similar magnetic elements 67 are supported by the body 64 and magnetically related to the elements 66 so as to allow the plate 62 to assume any of 20 different positions upon a rotation thereof. Adjacent the periphery 61 and supported by the apparatus still another system of magnetic elements 68 is illustrated, one of each beingopposite a position 60 on the wheel 62 after a positioningthereof has been assumed.

Another wheel-shaped plate69, similar to plate 62, is shown in but a small sectional view of a further embodiment in FIG. 9, wherein one or more of the magnetic elements 67 are supported by a cover plate 70 of the apparatus. A portion of the plate 69 is again shown in FIG. 10, drawn essentially actual size, and in three of the positions60 a rotatable member 71 is illustrated, representingthe, display member of the indicatorll of FIG. 1, or that of FIG. 2. Also in each of the positions 60 the mask 10 will be supported, or included as an actual part of the plate 62, as further illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

After a positioning of the plate 62 has been effected by the magnetic element system 66 and 67, magnets 68 will function as position reference magnets for each of the display members 11, or 21, as explained in connection with the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiments, wherein the use of reference magnets 26 have been described. Intermediate each reference magnet 68, adjacent the periphery 61, two additional magnets 72 are shown, each presenting poles which are magnetically opposite the poles of magnets 68. The combined effects of magnets 68 and 72 produces a rotation of each of the members 71 in the direction of arrows 73, about an axis 16 thereof, upon a rotation of the plate 62 in the direction of the arrow 74 about the axis 65. While the plate 62 is being rotated quite slowly each of the members 71 in the apparatus rotate faithfully, but beyond a particular speed of rotation of the plate 62, a revolving of the members 7! become erratic. In doing so a system of 20 score indicators become satisfactory shuffled and the positioning of the indicators about the periphery of the apparatus is entirely a game of chance. Although not so shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the system of magnets 68 and 72 may be supported by the cover plate 70 as is the magnets 67 and still be equally effective in causing a rotation, shuffling and positioning of the members 71.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a means of utilizing the indicators of FIGS. 5 or 6 in a system embodiment somewhat like that described in connection with the system embodiments of FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10. A wheel-like plate 75 is supported by a shaft and bearing assembly 76 and rotatable in relation to a body portion 77 of the apparatus about an axis 78 thereof. The system of magnets 68 and 72, and magnets 66, are supported in the body 77. When the member 75 is rotated in relation to the body 77 in the direction of the arrow 79, the rotatable members 80, which may be members 30 of indicators 41 or members 50 of indicators 51, supported adjacent the periphery 81 of the plate 75 will also revolve about the axis 78. In doing so each of the members 80 will be rotated about their respective axes 32 in'the direction of arrows 82. After a shuffling of the members 80, and after the plate 75 comes to rest in any one of the possible angular positions of the plate, each of the members 80 will have assumed one of the six angular positions heretofore explained in connection with the indicators 41 and 51 and provide in accordance therewith a score on the display surface thereof.

FlG. 13 illustrates a system embodiment means of utilizing the score indicator 31 of FIG. 4. A plurality of the rotatable members 30 is supported by a wheelshaped plate member 83 and above each of the masks 39 the plurality of light guides 88, explained in connection with the FIG. 4 embodiment, are supported in the plate 83 about the periphery thereof. The system of magnets 68 and 72, and magnets 66, are positioned in the body 77. When the plate 83 is rotated in relation to the body 77 a rotating and shuffling of the members 30 will take place, and after the plate 83 comes to a stop each of the members 30 will have assumed oneof the six angular positions to be determined by the array of magnets 20 thereof and provide accordingly a display of die spots on the surface 38. A cover plate 90 of light transparent material is shown in this embodiment, and the light source 13 therein, as well as the light source in each of-the other embodiments, maybe a cirular type of flourescent lamp.

Although the system embodiments of this invention have been described utilizing circular arrays of score indicators in which twenty such indicators have been considered, the invention is not to be limited in this regard. And although indicator means have been described wherein but six mask positioning magnets have been discussed in connection with the display of from one to six die spots, it should of course be understood that the invention lends itself as well to the use of more than six score indicating positions and accordingly more than the display of six light spots on the display surface of any one die.

It should be understood by those skilled in the arts pertaining to to the construction and operation possibilities of the present invention that the embodiments described herein are illustrative only and that the invention includes such other modifications and equivalents as may be seen by those skilled in the arts, but still being within the scope of the appendedclaims. Because of the present state of the art in themoulding of plastic materials the nature of the invention lends itself to relatively inexpensive fabrication techniques.

Iclaim: l. A rotatable game of chance comprising: a. a support base; 7 b. a light source mounted within said base; 0. a support disc overlying said light source; d. a first axle perpendicular to the center of said support disc rotatably mounting said support disc on said base;

e. a plurality of secondary discs;

I". a like plurality of secondary uxlc means connected to said support disc each equally spaced about an imaginary circle whose center corresponds to the center of said support disc, said secondary axle means each being parallel to said first axle with each secondary axle means perpendicularly supporting the center of a respective secondary disc for rotation of said secondary disc with respect to said support disc;

g. support disc indexing means cooperative between the support base and support disc for indexing the support disc, when spun, to any one of a plurality of equally spaced predetermined index positions;

h. secondary disc spinning and indexing means cooperative between the support base and secondary discs to cause rotation of said secondary discs with respect to said support disc when said support disc is spun and to index said secondary discs in any one of a plurality of index positions with respect to said support disc when said support disc is slowed and indexed;

'i. said secondary discs each having a plurality of predetermined positioned window means therethrough;

j. said support disc having groups of predetermined positioned window means therethrough, each group positioned within one of the areas of said support disc defined by the projected area of a respective adjacent secondary disc;

k. and said support disc and said secondary discs acting as light masks except for said window means therethrough, whereby manual rotation of said support disc by carrying said secondary axles therewith causes, through said secondary spinning and indexing means, the secondary discs to be spun and finally indexed with respect to said support disc on the cessation of spinning and indexing of said support disc by its indexing means, whereby the pattern of light finally emitted through any one of the combination of the predetermined positioned window means of a support disc group combined with the predetermined window means of the respective secondary disc is dependent upon the indexing of the secondary disc with respect to the support disc and is different for each one of the indexed positions of the secondary disc with respect to said support disc.

2. A rotatable game of chance as in claim 1 wherein the cooperative support disc indexing means and the cooperative secondary disc spinning and indexing means are magnetic.

3. A rotatable game of chance as in claim 1 wherein the individual window means may consist of individual light guides.

4. Means for utilization in a gameof chance comprising: t

a. a light source;

b. a plate overlying said light source;

c. a disc intermediate said plate and said light source;

d. an axle means supporting the center of said disc for rotation of said disc with respect to said plate;

e. disc indexing means to index said disc in any one of a plurality of index positions with respect to said plate upon rotation of said disc;

f. said disc having a plurality of predetermined positioned window means therethirough;

gv said plate having a group of predetermined posipredetermined positioned window means of said tioned window means therethrough, said group podisc is dependent upon the indexing ofthe disc with sitioned within the area of said plate defined by the respect to the plate. projected area of said disc; 5. Means for utilization in a game of chance as in h. and said disc and said plate acting as light masks claim 4 wherein the disc indexing means are magnetic.

except for said window means therethr0ugh,. 6. Means for utilization in a game of chance as in whereby the different patterns of light finally emitclaim 4 wherein the individual window means of said ted through the combination of the predetermined plate group may consist of individual light guides. positioned window means of said plate group and 

1. A rotatable game of chance comprising: a. a support base; b. a light source mounted within said base; c. a support disc overlying said light source; d. a first axle perpendicular to the center of said support disc rotatably mounting said support disc on said base; e. a plurality of secondary discs; f. a like plurality of secondary axle means connected to said support disc each equally spaced about an imaginary circle whose center corresponds to the center of said support disc, said secondary axle means each being parallel to said first axle with each secondary axle means perpendicularly supporting the center of a respective secondary disc for rotation of said secondary disc with respect to said support disc; g. support disc indexing means cooperative between the support base and support disc for indexing the support disc, when spun, to any one of a plurality of equally spaced predetermined index positions; h. secondary disc spinning and indexing means cooperative between the support base and secondary discs to cause rotation of said secondary discs with respect to said support disc when said support disc is spun and to index said secondary discs in any one of a plurality of index positions with respect to said support disc when said support disc is slowed and indexed; i. said secondary discs each having a plurality of predetermined positioned window means therethrough; j. said support disc having groups of predetermined positioned window means therethrough, each group positioned within one of the areas of said support disc defined by the projected areA of a respective adjacent secondary disc; k. and said support disc and said secondary discs acting as light masks except for said window means therethrough, whereby manual rotation of said support disc by carrying said secondary axles therewith causes, through said secondary spinning and indexing means, the secondary discs to be spun and finally indexed with respect to said support disc on the cessation of spinning and indexing of said support disc by its indexing means, whereby the pattern of light finally emitted through any one of the combination of the predetermined positioned window means of a support disc group combined with the predetermined window means of the respective secondary disc is dependent upon the indexing of the secondary disc with respect to the support disc and is different for each one of the indexed positions of the secondary disc with respect to said support disc.
 2. A rotatable game of chance as in claim 1 wherein the cooperative support disc indexing means and the cooperative secondary disc spinning and indexing means are magnetic.
 3. A rotatable game of chance as in claim 1 wherein the individual window means may consist of individual light guides.
 4. Means for utilization in a game of chance comprising: a. a light source; b. a plate overlying said light source; c. a disc intermediate said plate and said light source; d. an axle means supporting the center of said disc for rotation of said disc with respect to said plate; e. disc indexing means to index said disc in any one of a plurality of index positions with respect to said plate upon rotation of said disc; f. said disc having a plurality of predetermined positioned window means therethrough; g. said plate having a group of predetermined positioned window means therethrough, said group positioned within the area of said plate defined by the projected area of said disc; h. and said disc and said plate acting as light masks except for said window means therethrough, whereby the different patterns of light finally emitted through the combination of the predetermined positioned window means of said plate group and predetermined positioned window means of said disc is dependent upon the indexing of the disc with respect to the plate.
 5. Means for utilization in a game of chance as in claim 4 wherein the disc indexing means are magnetic.
 6. Means for utilization in a game of chance as in claim 4 wherein the individual window means of said plate group may consist of individual light guides. 